Sally's November Prayer

Sally, one of my friends from church, sends me the nicest things.

I told her when I see her name in my mailbox, I know there is a nice surprise waiting for me.

This is what I recieved yesterday and had to share it more than just on email. I had to make some slight changes to make it from an email item to something you can come back to repeatedly--just look for Sally's November Prayer.

I hope it brings you Blessings!

Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends who pray together, stay together.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for this day. I thank you You for being able to see and hear this morning. I am blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God  You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start each day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness from You.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example--to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will not share You with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love, and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. 

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses
them willingly . . .

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

November Project: Fall Banner

At convention, I met a fantastic presenter . . . Denise Black! She is one of the best teachers I have met and so creative. She shared two projects with me that I have shared with my friends, our Halloween tile and this great fall banner. It is made with a discontinued stamp set, but I still love it and knew I wanted to make it with our Dreamin' paper pack. The ladies and I had such fun this weekend.

I don't like using discontinued stamps for my projects, but this was an exception. The Many Thanks set, D1371, is a favorite of mine and when I went through all of my stamps, there weren't any others that came close to working for this project.

My first flower is 7" and the last flower is 6." To save paper, we made the final ones for the projects 6" and they worked fine. I had the ladies roll the petals down first, then roll them up as tight as possible to keep from tearing them, and then when finished, let them unroll to the dimension they want. I user an Imaginisce Petal Roller to roll my petals and then my flowers. I actually just learned something. There is a petal roller for fabric and for paper; I have the one for fabic. Guess what--it works fine and it's pink and prettier so that's the one I'm keeping!

Here are some close ups for you:

 

Products Used

Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

X7142B Dreamin Paper Pack

D1371 Many Thanks My Acrylix Stamp Set

X5912 Dark Neutral Shade Cardstock Pack (for Cocoa)

Z1334 My Creations Mix and Mingle Album

Z1683 Mixed Shapes Dimensional Elements

(Note: I used chipboard that I had on hand,

the Mixed Shapes set has the flower shapes in it.)

Z1333 Mocha Pearl Shapes

Z2194 Sanding Kit

Z2191 Finishing Files

Z578 Corner Rounder

Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors

Z697 Sponge

Z1296 Distressing Inks--Chocolate

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads:

Z2101 Autumn Terracotta

Z2103 Bamboo

Z2108 Brown Bag

Z2123 Goldrush

Z2137 Olive

Z2192 Pacifica

Z2150 Sunflower

Other products: Alene's Quick-dry Glue for chipboard pages, Tape adhesive of choice or Z679 Liquid Glass for Acrylic sheets, 1" circle punch for notched corners, Creative Memories decorative corner punch. 

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop--Reinkers

Hi all and Welcome!

This month's Blog Hop focus is Reinkers--another useful and inexpensive tool for you. If you have arrived from Corina's Creative Ink Site you are on the right track. The Blog Hop is designed so that you "hop" from one participant's site to another, in a full circle seeing 9 different samples for using your reinkers. I hope you enjoy yourself.

I have two samples for you that I made. The Butterfly on the first card and the background on the second card were both created with reinkers. (You can click on each card to get a closer view.) I have a list of common products used on both cards at the end of this posting. After each cards, I have listed the products used that were specific to that card. Then after the second card, you will find one more list, a numbered list you can follow to create your own reinker backgrounds. I hope you enjoy this little tutorial.

When finished here, hop on over to Carol's Scrappin in Paradise. She made a really pretty layout with reinkers.

Card design inspired by one I received from a fellow consultant at convention.

It was signed by L. Youngblood on the back.

Products Used

(See Common Products below)

Stamps: B1379 Sophia   D1452 Find Your Style

Paper: 1320 White Daisy   X7141B Elemental Paper Pack   X7142B Dreamin Paper Pack

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads: Z2164 Sorbet   Z2167 Creme Brulee

Z1104 Clear Sparkles

Products Used

(See Common Products below)

X7144B Mischief Paper Pack

Stamps: D1490 Backdrop--Charmed

             (I loved the play on words with the dangle "charm" in the opposite corner.)

Exclusive Inks: Z2105 Black Stamp Pad     Z2101 Autumn Terracotta Marker

Z269 White Daisy Grosgrain--colored with the Autumn Terracotta Marker

Z1410 Antiqued Copper Embossed Brads (In top Left Corner)

Z1484 Red Glitz Glitter Gel (I put this for the Bats Eyes)

Z1612 Pin Clips

Z1635 Heirloom Assortment (Contains 6 dangle jewels w/brads & 6 adhesive-backed resin flowers. I used a smokey dangle jewel that's hanging from Antiqued Copper Embossed Brad in top left corner.)

What I Did

1. Take a sheet protector and cut all sides but one open.
2. Select Reinker of choice. I used 5 colors. When you put completementary colors beside one another, they will make each other pop. (When you mix them together, however, you get muddy browns. I talk about this later.)
3. I have only tried this with glossy cardstock so cut a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock down into (4) 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" pieces. The ink moves on the plastic and will still move on the glossy cardstock, but doesn't move on regular cardstock.
4. You may want to have some damp paper towels around.
5. Once all materials are gathered, open your sheet protector and drop drips of reinker around in an apx. 5 x 6" oval area.
6. Close the sheet protector and move the ink around. I twisted the top part of the sheet protector a bit.
7. Open the protector back up and place your glossy cardstock face down on the ink, smooshing it around a bit more.
8. Pick the cardstock up. If there is any white, lay it back down on the ink or swipe it across the ink.
9. Set each piece of completely colored cardstock aside to dry.
10. I added more ink as needed to my sheet protector to finish inking my remaining cardstock. As the colors started getting muddy looking, I knew I would be using those for fall cards, but also manipulated the colors by adding a little Sunny Yellow and Cotton Candy to brighten them up. You will see when your cardstock starts looking like one solid color--you're finished.

Common Products Used

Glossy Cardstock

Reinkers: Z2200 Amethyst   Z2231 Key Lime   Z2252 Sunny Yellow   Z2293 Cotton Candy  Z2294 Sky 

Z534 Microtip Scissors

Z697 Sponge

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z1297 Edge Distresser

Calendar Pages

For the next few posts, I thought I better share some more of the calendar pages we have made. I use assorted materials for these projects.

Products Used

Discontinued Wings Paper Pack

Z1294 Sanding Kit

Z1615 Designer Ribbon Red Collection

Sizzix Sizzlets Broadway Letters

Stampin Up Butterfly Die

Stampin Up label Punch

Because our stamps are totally clear, you can stamp on them after you cut them out with your Cricut. Plus we have stamp images that totally match Cricut images!

Products Used

X7139B Elemental Paper Pack

Z1686 Art Philosophy Cricut Collection, Cartridge and Stamps

Z1298 Texture Tools

Z196 Distressing Inks--Chocolate

Z2157 Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad--Vineyard Berry 

Bazzil Cardstock

Satin Ribbon

Imaginisce i-rock Jewel Setter

Chalk Ink

I Am a "Kept" Woman

My friend Charlotte sent this great poem too me. It was so good, I printed it and saved it. I just found it on my night stand it's still a keeper so I thought it would be good to share it with y'all. I hope you enjoy it!

You see there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,

     But God KEPT me sane. 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds

are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isa 26:3)

There were times when I thought I could go on no longer,

     But the Lord KEPT me moving. 

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, 

and I will bring you back to this land. 

I will not leave you until 

I have done what I have promised you. (Gen 28:15)

At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me wrong,

     But the Lord KEPT my mouth shut. 

 ¹ How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?

   How long will you hide your face from me?

² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 ³ Look on me and answer, LORD my God.

   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”  

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 ⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;

   my heart rejoices in your salvation.

⁶ I will sing the LORD’s praise,

   for he has been good to me. (Psa 13)

Sometimes, I think money just isn't enough,

     But GOD has helped me to KEEP the lights on, the water on, 
     a roof over our heads, and food on the table, etc...

 ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, 

what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; 

they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, 

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not much more valuable than they? 

²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 

²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor

was dressed like one of these. 

³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, 

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, 

will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ 

or ‘What shall we drink?’ 

or ‘What shall we wear?’

³² For the pagans run after all these things, 

and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Matt 6:25-34)

When I thought I would fall, HE KEPT me up

     When I thought I was weak, HE KEPT me strong! 

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 
(1 Peter 5:7)

 ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest. 

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 
and you will find rest for your souls. 

³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Matt 11:28-30)

I could go on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!

     I'm blessed to be "KEPT."

I hope you are "KEPT" too.

Scriptures are taken from the New International Version (NIV). For a GREAT online Bible, in different languages and several versions, go to http://www.youversion.com/

Product Review: Martha Stewart Paper Trimmer

I am a paper trimmer fanatic. At home, I have a GENESIS TRIMMER, they're handmade and I waited 8 months to get it. They're also an investment. I have never regretted that purchase. But haven't been so lucky finding a portable paper trimmer. I have bought a bunch of them, some have been so bad they just go straight to the trash, not even on to anyone else. My friend Karine is right up there with me. The two of us could probably go on a nice little trip somewhere with all the paper trimmers that we've bought and haven't liked.

We want a trimmer that works well, cuts straight--on cardstock and vellum, doesn't fall apart all the time, doesn't break when you drop it, and doesn't take an engineering degree to operate. Not too much to ask. I've been so pleased with my Martha Stewart Punches, that I decided to look at the MARTHA STEWART PAPER TRIMMER. I went to Michaels and actually took it out of the package right in the store to investigate further. I immediately told Karine I may have found one and had to wait til I got a coupon to get it. She had a coupon, bought it and liked it so I got one too. I even had a 50% off coupon on Martha Stewart products and some money left on a gift card from my Sister-in-law Sherry--Thanks Sherry!

     

The verdict: I do like it! In addition to the above requirements, it has a storage compartment underneath where you can store your embossing and cutting blades--no more searching for lost blades! Most trimmers have a swing arm that pulls out so you can cut your 12x12" papers, this has a slide out tray of sorts; you get measurements from both the top and bottom, not just one side. From what I have read this is good for both left- and right-handed individuals.

There is a magnifying glass on the sliding part that covers the measurements; a help for my aging eyes! Another feature I like is with the blades. I worry about throwing sharp things, like old blades, away. No worries here. In the photo below, see those little round things, those are actually covers.

Once you set your blade in the trimmer, the cover SLIDES off--don't pull it off, slide it off.  Put it in the back storage compartment and save the cover until you are ready to throw the blade away. When the time comes, slide the cover back on your used blade and when you throw it out, nobody gets hurt by it poking through a bag.

While it is still new, after YEARS and YEARS of searching, I think I have finally found my favorite portable paper trimmer!

NOTE: If you read this when I post it, the Paper Trimmer and the MARTHA STEWART SCORING BOARD & ENVELOPE TOOL, (another great product) are both on special at Michaels as their Deal of the Day for 50% off on 9/13/2011. You cannot beat that price!

SweetHeart

For my August Playday we used the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go kit and Made a 2 page layout and our calendar page.  I pretty much made the layout just like it was in the pattern except that I used more photos. When a pattern says to use say a 9 x 9 photo, I just fill photos in to fit a 9 x 9 inch space. You also see that while Sweetheart is more love/valentines oriented, I love scrapbooking my granddaughter and what better way to celebrate her and her friends. I also added a journaling block from the now discontinued Sophia Jounaling blocks. It isn't an exact match, but good enough. 

I stamped my letters with Black ink, but the I used Grey Wool for the swirls on my paper. I thought the Black would be just a bit too overpowering. The directions also called to stamp the pennants in alternating fist and second generation Cotton Candy ink. Instead of second generation, we used Baby Pink. It too is close enough and saves time, getting just the right inking that you can't always get with second generation stamping. 

One thing that you cannot see is how I identified the people in my photos. Our Red, Pink Purple Sparkle Assortment just happens to come with 3 different colors of gemstones and I needed to identify people in 3 different photos. So on each of the photos on the left page, I put a gemstone. Then on the right page, I put the same colored gemstone on the bottom of my journaling square and identified the people in that photo. It is subtle, but works. There are two photos of my granddaughter and one of her girlfriends. Those photos each got the same colored gemstone because it is the same girl. I was thrilled that it worked out so well! Of course I had to add more bling to the butterfly and put 3 on on his body and one for his head.

The little white dots are liquid applique. They're a different effect, but I don't know that I like using them on scrapbook pages. They tend to burn quite easily. If you saw this up close and i pointed it out to you, you could see burn marks on my paper. I'm so glad I didn't have it near my photos! I had Liquid Applique out for the ladies to try, but suggested that they may like adding sparkles, pearls, or brads better.

Materials Used

G1017 Sweetheart WOTG

E1018 Pennant Alphabet My Acrylix Stamp Set

Z1386 Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment

Z1326 Sparkles, Red, Pink, Purple Assortment

Z108 Liquid Applique

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads

   Z2102 Baby Pink   Z2105  Black   Z2125 Grey Wool    Z2190 Gypsy   Z2193 Cotton Candy

Z697 Sponge

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z534 MicroTip Scissors

Our next project was our calendar page. I used the left page of the "Silver Screen" pattern on pages 20 and 21 of Cherish. Honestly, we have the best pattern books. They are designed so you can turn the pattern around any way and have 4 layouts out of one pattern. Flip the pages and turn them differently and you have even more. Each pattern not only gives you dimensions, but also then has you label you the pieces as you cut and you build you layouts with your "a-b-c" pieces; so simple! I always leave the book open because once completed, the final product looks different from the book.

Here I used the back sides of the paper from the Sweetheart Kit. This kit is discontinued, but as of today, I checked and it is available online. If you want it--go order it now! I added Gypsy paper to go with the Background and Texture Paper. People could choose between Pink or white grosgrain ribbon and like the layout above, they can choose they're own title. We added Waxy Flax to the buttons; I think I had some old Amethyst left over that went perfect. I used some metal-rimmed tags for the lower butterfly which was inked first in Cotton Candy and then the body rolled in Gypsy before stamping. You can't tell here, but I put Liquid Glass on this butterfly's "heart" and sprinkled it with Prisma Glitter. The stitching is an old stamp set C1234 Simple Stitches; this is one set I will never part with--no stitching for me when I can stamp! There is a Bitty Sparkle in the lightly sponged little butterfly on the right.

The calendar is so easy. You can make your pages, put them on the calendar, and then after the year is over, use some Undu to take them off and put your pages in a book. You add your own months, days, and decorations to the calendar too. It is spiral bound and a deal at $7.95. I already stuck my page in the calendar before taking the picture so you can see the spiral at the bottom of this photos.

Materials Used
G1017 Sweetheart Workshop on the Go
X5916 Purple Cardstock Shades Pack
Z1030 12 x 12 Monthly Calendar
My Acrylix Stamp Sets:
   E1013 Field Trip Alphabet
   C1234 Simple Stitches
Z1370 Pink Buttons
Z1263 Clear Bitty Sparkles
Z679 Liquid Glass
Z134 Prisma Glitter
Z1463 Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads:  Z2190 Gypsy   Z2193 Cotton Candy

Z697 Sponge

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z534 MicroTip Scissors

Pink Grograin Ribbon

Amethyst Waxy Flax

CTMH Spotlight Blog Hop: Circle Cards

If you have arrived from Wendy's Scrapbooking Blog, you are in the right place. If not, I'll get you there. Each person's site follows another like a circle of us sitting around a table, sharing what we have made with you and if you keep clicking on the following name (my page will take you to Elizabeth's), you will wind up back to Wendy, and then back to me.

Because I have listed several new products, I have highlighted some and linked each one to my website. You can click on the bolded/underlinded phrase and see more information on the products and pick some up if you'd like. If you do, however, be sure to check out the "while supplies last" section for some great bargains.

This month's Close To My Heart Spotlight product is Circle Cards. I chose to use the Colonial White circle cards to make my card. There come in packs of 12 cards with matching envelopes and are also available in White Daisy. We also have Z1309 4 1/2" Clear Cards that are packets containing 8 flexible, clear cards, 4 square and 4 scalloped circles along with 8 cello envelopes. Each card has a removable protective coating. These are so pretty when embossed and work beautifully with our double-sided papers.

Since I just got my Cricut Art Philosophy collection in my convention bundles, and the great Roxie papers that I already played with I knew I wanted to use these products. Oh and I had to use the NEW cute little Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes--Love them. Lots of elements and this is what I came up with, a special card for someone special!

The big black center of the left flower is a velvet button I had laying out my craft table. It was huge and I told some friends I would find something to use it for. It made a great coneflower! Everything else is Close To My Heart Products and most are new.

I cut the Rose at 5 1/2" and the Coneflower at 6" on the Cricut. There is a Tulip-colored belly band underneath the flowers, with belt loops on each end to hold the ribbon. that I believe I cut at 3 1/2". The ticket was easy as the carrier sheet that holds the stamps tells you what size to cut it--1 inch.

We have a stamp that matches the leaves, but to stamp them, I would have had to cut them approximately 3/4." I learned why you cannot cut the leaves that small; their stem turns out less than threadlike and it pretty much disintegrates when you take the leaves off the cutting mat. I think my leaves were cut at 2." Then I just took a swirly stamp and stamped a design randomly all over them. Since our stamps are 100% clear, you they are super easy to stamp after you have cut them out on the Cricut. If your cut image it too small to hold with your finger and stamp, hold it with a piercing tool.

Oh and the shimmer on the rose--that's my favorite--our own glimmer spray/mist. Mix it to match your projects, using our Spray pens, Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, and Re-inkers. Even mix re-inkers to get different colors--the possibilities are endless and very inexpensive since you only use a few drops of reinker, pearl paint and water. You receive a recipe card in with the Spray Pens showing quantities you use, and measuring marks are right on the pen. If you want more, or less shimmer don't want any at all and just want a spray mist, omit the pearl paint.

SUPPLIES USED
Z1352 4 1/2" Colonial White Circle Cards
X7140B Roxie Level 2 Paper Pack
X5754 Creme Brulee Cardstock
Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
D1491 Hooray Bouquet (click on title to see all stamps in set)
Z1615 Designer Ribbon Red Collection
Z1463 Just Blooms Flutter Paper Shapes
Z1333 Mocha Opaques (pearl for center of Rose)
Z1263 Bitty Sparkles (for Butterfly Body and dotting the "i" on ticket greeting)
Z553 Bonding Memories Chisel Tip Glue Pen
Z341 Memory Book Mini Glue Dots
Z1151 3-D Foam Tape
Z1114 Piercing Tool (great for an "extra" hand or finger)
Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors
Z1380 Spray pens
Z1039 Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint
Z697 Round Sponge (for shading ink on my flowers)
Exclusive Inks Z2262 Honey Reinker
Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads
   Z2114 Cocoa   Z2153 Sweet Leaf    Z2166 Tulip    Z2167 Creme Brulee

Believe it or not, this was a quick and pretty easy card to make. It took longer convincing myself that I couldn't play with all of my new toys and cleaning up my table afterwards. I had papers, tools, and embellishments everywhere! I tell you, it is just as hard for me when the new goodies arrive as it is for you when you get a new bag, to get back to everyday responsibilities than it is to sit right down and play!

Now it's time to leave my site and go see what the other creative ladies in the month's CTMH Spotlight Blog have created with Cricle Cards.

Next on the list . . . hop on over to see what  Elizabeth at Broken Treasures made.

Crop and Create Project: Memory Game Box

We created this great little box at the recent Close To My Heart Convention. I had so much fun making mine that I thought I'd share it so it's the project at my house on 8/12. Email me for more details.

Supply List
Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
Z1614 My Creations Memory Game Box, complete with 24 3x3 Chipboard cards

C1464 Blue Ribbon My Acrylix stamps

X7141B Elemental Level 2 Paper Pack

X7141C Elemental Complements Dimensional Elements

X5920 Winter Cardstock Combo Pack

1273 Desert Sand Cardstock

Z1375 Kraft Cardstock

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads

    Z2114 Cocoa

    Z2118 Desert Sand

    Z2318 Exclusive Inks Desert Sand Marker

Z697 Sponge

Z1612 Pin Clips

Z1366 Metal Brad Assortment

Z1466 Bling Assortment

Z1151 3-D Foam tape

Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors

1772 Glue Dots

Z1114 Piercing Tool

July 2011, CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop: Z1377 Color-Ready Kraft Borders

If you have arrived from Vicki's Creative Space, you're on the right track.

For my project, I chose to make a card from the Wishes Card Confidence Program. I used the "Three Wishes Pattern" found on page 109. Instead of cutting three strips of paper, I used my Kraft Borders that I painted with a mixtue of Pearl Paint and Gypsy reinker. The Hearts are White Chipboard that I sponged with Tulip ink and edged with Gypsy Ink. See the list below for all materials I used.

Supplies Used

9033 Wishes Card Confidence Program

G1017 Sweetheart Workshop On The Go

Z1377 Color-Ready Kraft Borders

Z1378 Dimensional Elements Chipboard Hearts

B1379 Sophia My Acrylix Stamp Set

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads

   Z2102 Baby Pink   Z2193 Cotton Candy   Z2190 Gypsy   Z2166 Tulip

Z2290 Exclusive Inks Reinker Gypsy

Z1039 Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint

Z341 Memory Book Mini Glue Dots

Assorted Small Buttons

To see more uses for our Color-Ready Kraft Boarders, go see what Luisa has created. 

Be sure to check back next month to see what we work on then.

I have the best friends!

Tomorrow I leave to go to the Close To My Heart Leadership Retreat followed immediately by the annual Convention. It is in nearby Anaheim this year and I am so excited to attend. I will get to see my Upline and her team members who are several states away from me. I should be in my craft room working on swaps and roommate gifts. I cannot wait to get the new Idea Book. The new Idea Books are available on 9/1 and I am compiling my mailing list. If you would like one of your own,  just let me know.

I took a few minutes this morning to work on my poor roses. I haven't trimmed them this year, leaving that to Ray. He just cuts away without regard to where he is cutting. We learned that a timer has been unplugged in the back so he asked me to water a few tomato plants. Our weather has been so hot and humid, it was nice to get out there and trim them in the great weather God has provide us with today. 

I have had a few speed bumps occur lately and had a wonderful weekend with friends. Karine came and spent Friday through Sunday. Candice came and stayed Saturday and all day Sunday. Eilene and Teresa came on Saturday. Karine lead us in making a fantastic project. I will post mine after it is finished. But these ladies were fantastic to occupy my mind and cheer me up. Ray enjoyed all the goodies we had around the house and me not watching his diet. Thanks for the laughter, chats, and fun ladies.

My other news is I have joined a Blog Hop. I used to participate in lots of swaps, but time and the expense of mailing them back and forth have stopped that fun. I miss the creative challenges they bring. The Blog Hop brings just that without the time of having to make lots of items and I don't have to mail my finished projects anywhere. Be sure to check back on July 15; my first posting goes live at midnight.

OopsI hear the dryer calling me!

Until then, I will try to post some sneak peaks from convention. 

Computer Tip: Disable "Display Mixed Content" Security Warning Pop-up

Warning: I am NOT a computer Geek. I was blessed to have worked with a wonderful team of technicians on my last job, however, and did learn a few things from them. One was how to look some fixes for annoyances. My latest is the following Internet Explorer 8's security warning pop-up.

At Microsoft Answers, I found someone with a similar complaint and solution. (Click on highlighted words to go there yourself.) 

There is also another link inside the above which provides a little history, some technical info, and PICTURES! Maybe it's the scrapbooker in me, but I found the pictures to be very helpful. My blog is also proving to be helpful. I post lots of "Labels" in my articles. These make up an "Index" for my blog.  By posting this here, and having my labels list on the right, I can quickly look up and click on "Computer Tips," and find these instructions.

Hope this is helpful to someone else.

Karine's Boyfriend

Karine is one of my "God-Friends." These are friends whom God has placed in my life for a special reason. I sold her the first set of stamps she bought on Ebay. She was so nice I thought for sure the sale wasn't going to go through. It did and I remember thinking I wish there were more people that nice in the world. Then later on, we met in person through an online Magenta Yahoo Group in which we both participated. At the time we were about 100 miles apart, one way. How likely is it that our paths would cross, not once, but twice under different circumstances?

Years, laughter, and tears later, we are now friends for life and beyond. We try to see each other as often as possible and have helped each other many times since our friendship finally clicked.  Now, we're only about 75 miles apart--hey every mile counts! When she first came over after I got Rusty, he was smarter than me and hooked up with her instantly; Karine was partial to him too. With both of them, what's not to love! So the last time she was here, he knew her the minute she came in the door and just started wiggling all over and could hardly wait for her to sit down and pet him. Of course, like Quincy before him and Lucy Belle, he is welcome at the scrap table and had to sit in Karine's lap while she worked.

Blessed Card

Such a pretty stamp set. It was an April Stamp of the Month and I love both the greetings in this set of 12. "We are so Blessed" and "If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.--Alfred Lord Tennyson." I never knew Tennyson to be the author of this saying. Flowers, Leaves, and Greetings, can we ever have too many stamps???
When I saw this saying, I new I had to make something with it and incorporate the rosebud ribbons in our Designer Ribbons pink collection. Here is my card. The left side is the outside and the right side is the inside of the card. It is the "Sun Dial" design on page 14 of the Close To My Heart Wishes Card Confidence Program book.

For the leaves, I hand cut little ovals out of cardstock scraps, scored and folded them in half. The circle and decorative corners on front greetings and inside panel were created with punches I colored the leaves on the inside panel with Garden Green and then flicked the center protion with Olive for the highlight. The flower's solid part of the stamp was inked with Sunflower ink, and then the lower edges were rolled in Smoothie ink and then stamped. This is so easy to do with totally clear stamps and blocks. Then I used the blending pen and my matching inks to blend out any lines in the flower.

Supplies Used

9033 Wishes Card Confidence Program

D1455 Blessed My Acrylix Stamp Set

X7136B Mayberry Level 2 Paper Pack

1245 Olive Cardstock

Exclusive Inks Markers: Z2337 Olive & Z2320 Garden Green

Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads: Z2114 Cocoa, ZZ2196 Smoothie, & Z2150 Sunflower

Z1384 Pink Designer Ribbon Collection

Z697 Sponge

3174 Blending Pen 

Z608 Scoring Stylus

Other items: Circle punch and Stamping Up corner punch

2011 Floods and Tornadoes Relief Operations, You & Me: Stronger Together

Many of the Close To My Heart Consultants asked if there was something we could do to support those affected by recent severe weather in the United States. The corporate office extended the great May campaign and came up with You & Me: Stronger Together, to raise funds for the survivors of the severe storms that have pummeled the Midwest and Southern states.

During the month of June 2011, order a You & Me kit for only $15 US/$16.50 CAN (a retail value of $34.95/$38.95), and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross 2011 Floods and Tornadoes relief operations. Just hop on over to my website, select "Shop Online" on the top left, and "Stronger Together," lower left to place your order for this sensational kit and help those in need at the same time. The You & Me: Stronger Together campaign will continue until June 30 at 11:59 pm (MDT) or while supplies last.

The You & Me Kits come with neat cardstock-like Background & Texture papers (They have the CTMH Logo printed on a cut-off inventory tab instead of on the paper so it won't get in your way!), Ribbon Mocha Opaques (pearlesque adhesive gems), Irresistibles--chipboard pieces with resist patterns that show through when covered with inks, a GREAT coordinating, D-sized stamp set (I have already used this set for the journaling box and tickets on other layouts and won't be putting it away.), and a colored brochure complete with cutting directions and an exclusive layout pattern so you can create the product with ease.

So I do things a little bit different. Those who attend my workshops will love this--I didn't QUITE understand the instructions and cut the papers wrong. See the striped paper at the bottom? It's not supposed to be striped. It's supposed to be solid pink. But even with a mistake it turns out great. I also add more photos than the layouts call for.

See this bottom row of flags--this are some of the Irresistible flags, sponged with ink. They are separated by Mocha Opaques. Isn't this a clever idea. The little dots are more Opaques scattered on the page. The journaling box and tickets are some of the stamped images.

I added more flourishes on the left page because I got ink smudges on this page. No such thing a mistakes--just room to stamp or embellish. On their samples, they had girls on the other pages and boys on this page. See how versatile the pages are. I enjoyed creating my layouts and even having to make up for my mistakes, I have some papers and Irresitibles left over to make some cards, a few other pages, or other projects with. Too bad I couldn't get a few more hours or energy added to each day.

I'm BACK!

I have had so much happening since I last wrote. If it can go wrong, it has.

I lost my little dog Quincy Jefferson. The silly guy had an eating disorder. He loved eating and ate mouse poison. Contrary to what you read on the web, Yes peroxide will make them throw up and Vitamin K is to stop bleeding, but this does not work--get your dog to the vet yesterday and I pray it works. For us, it wouldn't have mattered had we taken him right after he ingetsted the stuff. He just ate too much. I miss him terribly.

I received so many nice cards from friends who know how much our pets mean to us. This card and plant were from Danica because the plant had spots like Quincy. The beautiful roses were from my friend Eilene.

Being a Christian, part of the problem is the Bible doesn't specifically tell us that we will be reunited with our pets. But as my friend Jo told me one day. She canot believe that a Loving Father would not have her pets there waiting for her knowing how much they mean to her. That made me feel a lot better! Plus, I sometimes think they're little angels here on earth. They seem to make you laugh at just the right time.

Worse still, my very dear friend from high school, Valerie McCain-Field passed away. I can take pleasure in knowing that she is in Heaven and I will see her again. In fact, she LOVED Quincy and that dog looked out for her, I kind of wonder if maybe God took Quincy to meet Val. If that's the case, it makes me feel even better about Q. Valerie suffered a rare, dreadful disease, CNS Vasculitus. I am thankful that she is no longer suffering, but sad that I will miss her for awhile. For now--get that big stamping table read for us all Val, we'll join you soon!

My own health has been frustrating. My thyroid has been out of control and the doctor has just recetly gotten that medication right. Next one of tthe great pain medications still works for the pain, but has been sending me to la-la land where I can easily sleep 16-18 hours a day. There is no energy. I have a fantastic team of doctors and while this won't kill me, it sure frustrates me! Plus our cooler-than-normal weather is not my friend. I hate this factor because the cool weather is so much easier for Ray, who works outside a good portion of the time. Please say a little prayer that the doctors find the magic combo that sends the fibro monster back into it's cave again.

We do have a happy, new addition to our family. I knew Quincy added life to our household, I just never realized how much. He would run around this house and play with Lucy and then come over to me like a kid for a hug and some playing/petting time from me, then get down and go on playing with Lucy or take a nap. Without him here, Lucy stuck to me like glue. She didn't want to leave my side, didn't play; even my old girl Daisy didn't play and stuck pretty close to me. Ray and I knew we needed another furbaby for our home. He found him! In mid April, we adopted Sir Rusty Wiggles Dude!

Here is is with me at the shelter.

Barking at a bird on HIS back porch

Nap time with Ray.

Rusty got his name from a combination of places. Rusty from my friend Karine. Ray kept calling him Dude and because we like to give our dogs last names, he got "Dude" tacked on. To give him some authority we initially added "Mr." Rusty Dude. This was at the time of the Royal Wedding (William and Catherine) so Ray changed Mr to Sir. Then I called and told Ray at lunch one day that we had to add wiggles in there since I had never seen a dog wiggle so as him. He gets so excited and loves to be praised that he just wiggles his little 13-lb self all over the place, and that's how Sir Rusty Wiggles Dude got his name and he definitely has found his forever home!

Artwork coming soon--I promise!

Product Review: Scotch Pink Advanced Tape Glider

Like paper trimmers, I've always been on a quest to find a better adhesive. I now have one. I have gone through so many types over the years that it is crazy. I hate tombows and glue sticks because after a short while, your creations pieces fall apart. In heat, even Glue Dots won't stick. I cannot tell you how many envies I have opened and had pieces fall out that weren't confetti. One friend doesn't like refilling her tape runners all the time. Another doesn't like throwing away handfuls of plastics from refills or even nonrefillable adhesive dispensers after a few good days of cropping.

Have you seen the big yellow or pink tape runners? The difference is the pink is the cheapest and just uses 1/4" tape. The other one also uses 1/4" and 1/2" tape.

I have looked at them for years. My friend (Sandy) uses one of original ones. Every time we'd get together I would watch her, ask questions, and contemplate that big tape "thing."
Last summer, I bought one and LOVE it! I thought it would be hard to adjust to the size--not so. It took just a little bit to get used to and it is well worth the small effort. The adhesive sticks like crazy, you're not refilling every other hour, and they generally don't jam. I have found, and Teresa has too, that at one point past halfway sometimes starts rolling off the application wheel or not winding--weird stuff. I just tear off  and throw out the used tape, rewind it and it works fine through the end. I think it just gets too much used tape on disposable side. Speaking of which, the only thing you throw out is one little spool, like the one you throw out when you throw use up a roll of scotch tape from a dispencer.
The best part is the cost of refills. With a Michaels coupon, they're $5-6 for two rolls. Each roll contains 36 YARDS of adhesive. You can scrap or stamp a lot with that much adhesive. An extra feature is that when you're in the heat of creating and things are everywhere, you don't lose your adhesive; it's always easy to be found.
Since I got mine, Candice, Charlotte, Kairne, and Teresa have taken the plunge; they're all happy too. Last month at Sue's, Teresa Learned that, because the tape head is not covered, you have to watch where you put it or it can break in transport. It's easy to rethread though--even I can do it. (You think I'm joking--I'm not. I used to have Karine refill my Hermafix Dottos. I finally got fed up with it and gave it and the refills to her.
 
Karine found the ATG's cheapest (with $2.95 shipping) at overstock.com. It's a great product

Wings Workshop on the Go projects

Finally! I'm back and going to start uploading some artwork for you from my past playdays.

First is the Wings Workshop on the Go month. The Wings WOTG kit is G1016 and costs just $29.95. For that, you get a B-sized stamp set, a Level 2 Paper Pack, a Mini-Medley Accents Black Collection, a new GREAT Spray Pen, and a colored Workshop Guide that provides dimensions and detailed, colored instructions and diagrams for putting your pages and layouts together.

Here are the cards we made--or were supposed to make. There wasn't time so the ladies took their packs home and made them for "homework." We also used Vineyard Berry Reinker, Pearl Paint (for the Spray Pen), Exclusive Inks Stamp Pads in Black, Blush, and Vineyard Berry.

Next for that day was the two page layouts that were also made from the kit.

I changed things up a bit, by adding the button brads on the Sweet Leaf strip on the left page. That's my 2nd Mom holding Lucy Belle.Evelyn is Susan's mom and Susan is up in the top righ corner of this page with me, sipping lattes. I really miss her, she's only a gazillion miles away. Anyway, Lucy always has to go sit on Grandma's lap whenever she comes over. Below the ladies are hard at work on their Playday projects. The right page shows my friend Sandy. She had just bought the Accu-Cut machine from a LSS that went out of business, to leave in my room because that's the only place where she scraps. she's looking at all the dies she got with it. On the top left page, to the right of Grandma and Lucy, you see Lucy on the bottom part of the cart the Accu-Cut's dies sit on. She loves to find little nooks to catch a nap in.

The "Joy" on the right page is spelled out with our beautiful new Bohemian Alphabet. It is E-sized and $34.95. Up close, the letters are solid block style, but there are flowers etched in the negative on the lower half of the letters.

This month, we didn't do a calendar page, but did make the 6x6 mini accordian albums that I have posted below. It was a busy, fun day for all.

One month down, two to go but I'm off to bed tonight.